CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Now that the U.S. government has opened up orders for at-home COVID-19 tests, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) has a warning: beware of scammers. They struck before with other programs like the stimulus checks, and the BBB warns scammers are poised to pounce again.
In a news release, the BBB of the Southern Piedmont and Western North Carolina reported the most likely scams will happen online as people try to place an order. These fake links could pop up in a web search, in social media posts or ads; or even in unsolicited emails and texts. The BBB says the messages will urge you to follow the link.
At first glance, it all seems legit: the United States Postal Service logo is shown and it looks like a real website. You come to a form to request the tests, but that's where the first sign of trouble can be spotted.
The BBB said the real website for ordering kits from the USPS only asks for your name and address. Scam websites, however, will ask for more confidential information, like your Social Security number or Medicare ID. Scam sites also will ask for payment for shipping; the real website does not ask for payment since it is a government-run program responsible for test distribution.
Another way to verify you're looking at the real deal is by checking the domain name. The real COVID-19 test request site is at this link: special.usps.com/testkits. Scammers may try to swap two letters or make a slight misspelling in order to try to fool people that way. If the website address is misspelled, then it's not legitimate. Triple-check the website's address in your web browser's URL bar to be safe.
The BBB also says you should be on the lookout for tricky subdomains. Scammers may try to get clever with a name like "faketestkit.com" and hope you don't notice. Again, simply looking at your browser's URL bar will help ensure you're on the real website.
More customer complaints, reviews in 2021
The BBB of the Southern Piedmont and Western North Carolina also noted more customers filed slightly more complaints in 2021 than in 2020. A total of nearly 23,000 complaints were submitted, with 92% of them resolved. Meanwhile, more than 19,000 verified reviews were sent in 2021, which represents a 30% jump from 2020.
“Potential customers always want to know what third parties say about a business they're considering working with, and the BBB is a great resource for that. We are thrilled to see customers continuing to take advantage of this outlet by sharing positive or negative feedback about their experience with a business," said Tom Bartholomy, president of the BBB chapter.
The top complaint generators for 2021 included:
- New car dealers
- Used car dealers
- Auto service
- Collection agencies
- Property management
WCNC Charlotte is always asking "where's the money?" If you need help, reach out to the Defenders team by emailing money@wcnc.com.